Eli Manning Leads Giants to First Win in 2015

The New York Giants took advantage of an efficient night from quarterback Eli Manning and a tough defense en route to a 32-21 win over the Washington Redskins at MetLife Stadium. The Giants (1-2 overall, 1-1 NFC East) captured their first win of the young season which should quiet some of the hard to please New York media and fans for one week at least.

As for Washington (1-2 overall, 0-1 NFC East), they need to find a way to gain some consistency on offense, because it’s a perennial, painstaking exercise for them to score points and maintain consistency on offense.

In Manning’s case, in just about every quarter, he cut up the Redskins defense like steak knife though butter. He received solid protection all night and many times he didn’t even have to roll out. All he had to do was just drop back a few steps and hit his first or third read. He was 23 of 32 for 279 yards, 2 touchdown passes and no interceptions on the night.

Early in the first quarter, the Giants received their first points. Those points came courtesy of running back Rashad Jennings, who attacked from his right side of the line and used his right hand to block a Tress Way punt that ended up sailing out of the bottom left corner of the end zone for a safety. The score was 2-0 Giants with 12:47 left in the quarter.

Jennings’ blocked punt/safety play, was the first occurrence of that type of play in Giants history. And it was the first safety of any kind for the Giants football team since Christmas Eve 2011, when former Giants defensive end Chris Canty sacked New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez for a safety.

The Giants extended their lead, when running back Andre Williams followed a good block from fullback Nikita Whitlock, and trotted into the end zone from 1 yard out. That play gave the Giants a 9-0 lead with 6:34 left in the first quarter.

On the Giants’ first offensive possession of the second half, they received a big 4th and 1 reception of 4 yards to the WAS 34 by receiver Odell Beckham Jr., which took place along the right sideline. But that ended up being the last big play of the drive as two plays later, the Giants sent in kicker Josh Brown to try a 48 yard field. Brown’s third field goal of the game was successful as the Giants extended their lead to 18-6 with 7:29 left in the third quarter. Beckham Jr. caught 7 passes for 79 yards and 1 score on the night.

Early in the fourth quarter, Manning took the snap, then look deep where he spotted Beckham Jr., who caught the pass in the air over the head of Redskins cornerback Bashaud Breeland for a 30 yard score. That was Beckham Jr.’s first touchdown of the game and his second of the season. That play gave the Giants a comfortable 25-6 advantage with 13:39 left in the game.

Just when the Redskins thought they had a touchdown for the first time in the game, they didn’t. That’s because on 4th and 1 from the NYG 7, rookie running back Matt Jones carried the ball down the left sideline. But just as he was about to dive in the zone for a sure touchdown, here comes Giants cornerback Trevin Wade to punch the ball out of the back’s hands and out of the left corner of the end zone. The play resulted in a touchback and was clearly indicative of the type of night the Redskins were having on offense. The scoreboard read 9:32 remaining in the game.

Washington after almost three hours, received their first touchdown. Quarterback Kirk Cousins found a crossing Chris Thompson for a 4 yard touchdown, as the running back beat Giants inside linebacker Uani Unga to the end zone. Then on the subsequent 2-point conversion play, Cousins found rookie wide receiver Jamison Crowder for a completion to the left corner of the end zone. It was 25-14 Giants with 3:40 left in the game. Cousins went 30 of 49 for 316 yards, 1 touchdown pass and 2 interceptions in this game.

And as if the Redskins weren’t cooked enough, the Giants added to their misery with a marvelous touchdown play barely 20 seconds later! After Giants running back Shane Vereen recovered a ‘Skins onside kick attempt and ran to the WAS 41, New York took over. On the third play of the drive, Manning looked deep and threw the ball towards wide receiver Reuben Randle. The ball arrived near Randle but it was tipped by Breeland who was covering the receiver good, then the ball ended up in the hands of Randle who raced past a fallen Breeland and into the end zone. The 41 yard scoring play gave the Giants a 32-14 lead with 3:21 left in the game.

Randle finished the game with 7 catches for 116 yards and 1 score.

But on the ensuing kickoff, the Redskins tried to at least show that they weren’t dead yet. Receiver Rashad Ross took Brown’s kickoff and navigated up the field. Then Ross took off towards the right sideline and sped untouched down that sideline to the end zone to complete a 101 yard kickoff return for a score. It was now 32-21 Giants with around three minutes left in the game.

Giants rookie free safety Landon Collins knocked down a Hail Mary pass by Cousins in the end zone and Thompson carried for 14 yards which ended the game. Those plays happened back to back.